11919 Drone Complaints

I write in connection with your request for information dated 29^th April 2020 and received by this office on that date.  Please accept our apologies for the delay.  Below are the questions raised in your request and our response.

As a commercial/professional drone pilot, fully registered with the UK CAA, can I please ask for the following information?

In the calendar years 2016 to 2019 …..

How many complaints were made to police about drones?

During the same periods, from all the complaints made, how many were ‘investigated’ and what was the outcome?

1. a) We have made enquiries with the Force Control Room and they have advised us of the below numbers which relate to call to the force regarding drones and are where members of the public have reported a drone flying near the or are businesses informing that they will be flying at specific times for specific reasons. We have excluded any reports of theft.

2016 – 70

2017 – 86

2018 – 99

2019 – 141

We have also made enquiries with the Quality Assurance & Audit Officer from the Quality Team, NCRS & Compliance and they have advised that potentially there is a crime of endangering an aircraft which if a drone was to be flown too close could be classed as endangering an aircraft.  They have made checks and there are less than 10 crimes recorded on the system for this category and they all relate to the shining of lasers or torches at aircraft – which have been applied incorrectly.

Please note any statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.

The Cleveland Police response to your request is unique and it should be noted that Police Forces do not use generic systems or identical procedures to capture and record data therefore responses from Cleveland Police should not be used as a comparison with any other force response you receive.

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The APP College of Policing guidance states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced.

We have made every effort to ensure a response was provided within statutory deadlines, however due to current circumstances delays have been unavoidable.  If your response was late we apologise for any inconvenience it may have caused.  If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact this office.